Learn more about tires
Tires are one of the important parts of cars. What is the life of car tires? How long can the tires be used?
Let’s take a look at related content.
Analysis of tire structure
The cross section of a tire can be roughly divided into 4 parts: tread, shoulder, bead and bead.
Each part has its own function, just like the tread is in contact with
the ground, and the shoulder and the sidewall play a supporting role.
The tire is actually not a mass of rubber, there are multiple layers of different materials stacked inside the tire — tread pattern, cover layer, steel belt layer (2 layers), stress absorbing rubber, carcass cord layer, airtight layer .
How to check the car tire specifications?
The tire specifications are represented by a set of numbers and letters, which will be printed on the side of the tire.
The first number is the width of the tire’s section;
The second number represents the flat ratio;
The third letter represents the structure of the tire;
The next number indicates the diameter of the rim;
After the forum, the numbers and letters indicate the load index and
speed level, respectively. The letters in the flatness ratio and the
diameter of the rim represent the code of the tire type. The most common
is that (R) is the same as (Z) for radial tires.
Others? (X) is a high-pressure tire, (1) is a low-pressure tire, and (B) is a bias tire.
How long does it take to change car tires?
Some car owners believe that tire replacement is based on time and
mileage to decide whether to change, but this method has no theoretical
practice and scientific basis.
After all, tire manufacturers have not given a clear standard to indicate the time to change tires.
1. first look at the wear mark
Any brand of tire will have a wear mark on the bottom of the groove of the tread.
The wear mark height of a general car tire is 1.6 mm, and the wear mark of a heavy-duty tire is 2.4 mm.
Some car owners think that as long as the tire is not broken, it will
continue to be used even if the tire pattern is almost worn out. Such
tires are very dangerous if they continue to be used.
When the road surface is wet or slippery, the tread patterns are worn
out, and the water accumulated under the tire cannot be eliminated,
which is very easy to cause the vehicle to lose control.
2. Damages such as cracks or bulges appear, or the expiration date
In the process of daily use of the car, the tire may be stuck by foreign
objects, or it may accidentally hit the road teeth. The above-mentioned
conditions will lead to tire damage. Damaged tires include tread
cracks, tread bulges, severe sidewall wear, and tires that have been
stuck with foreign objects many times. In particular, pay attention to
seeing the phenomenon of bulging, the tire may burst at any time.
It is recommended that tires should always be checked during car
maintenance and repair. As long as the damage described above occurs, it
is necessary to go to the tire shop as soon as possible to check
whether the tires of the car need to be replaced.
Even if you are an old driver, how well the road conditions are
controlled, and the maintenance of the tires is in place, the tires will
age even after a long time.The best time to use a tire is generally
about 5 years. If it exceeds this period, it will start to age, which
will deform the tire tread and there is a risk of a flat tire.
Tire selection guide
1. Tire flatness ratio
The aspect ratio refers to the percentage of the tire’s cross-sectional height to its maximum cross-sectional width.
High aspect ratio tires are relatively comfortable because of their long sidewalls and strong cushioning capacity.
But the road feels poor, and the lateral resistance when turning is
weak. Conversely, a tire with a low flatness ratio and a large inner
diameter has a short sidewall and a wide tread, and therefore has a
large ground contact area. The tire can also bear a large pressure and
respond very sensitively to the road surface. Strong lateral resistance
when turning, and the vehicle’s handling is strong.
2. Tyre pattern
In addition to the beautiful appearance of the tire pattern, it also directly affects the handling of the car, whether there is noise, drainage performance, wear resistance, etc. The most common tire patterns are five kinds of horizontal groove pattern, straight groove pattern, straight horizontal groove pattern, block pattern and asymmetrical pattern. Among them, the lateral groove pattern has good friction and the straight groove pattern has low driving resistance, which is suitable for outdoor driving needs of SUVs. Block patterns are suitable for muddy or snowy areas, while asymmetric patterns have better drainage.
3. Tire width
The width of the tire is determined by the width of the hub, and the width of the tread also determines the grip performance of the tire. Theoretically, the greater the contact area between the tread width and the ground, the greater the grip of the tire and the better the handling performance. However, as the rolling resistance of wide tires increases, so does fuel consumption. Therefore, in the classification of tires, models that pursue performance will choose wider tires. But if it is an economical car for home use, its tread will not be very wide.
4. Tire performance index
Car tires must have three signs of tire wear, traction, and heat generation, referred to as “three T”.
The wear index refers to an indicator that measures the wear performance
and service life of the tire tread. The higher the value, the more
wear-resistant the tire. The tire traction index, which measures the
adhesion between the tire and the ground, is divided into four levels,
AA, A, B, and C, with AA being the highest. The heat-generating index
refers to the ability of the tire to generate heat, which is related to
the high-speed performance of the tire.